Vale Bob Cowper
- Andrew Young
- May 12
- 1 min read
Melbourne University Cricket Club mourns the passing of former MUCCer and distinguished Australian international representative, Bob Cowper OAM, who passed away on the weekend after a battle with illness.
Cowper, who scored Test cricket’s first triple century on Australian soil at his home Melbourne Cricket Ground, represented University for three seasons, from 1959 – 1962 and captained the club in the 1961/62 season.
A veteran of 27 Tests thereafter, Cowper donned the Baggy Green between July 1964 and July 1968. During that time, the stroke-making left-hander amassed more than 2,000 runs at 46.84, with five centuries.
Cowper’s most famous innings came in February 1966, when, having been 12th man for the previous Test, he made 307 against England at the MCG in 1966. Still the highest individual score at the venue, Cowper’s name is synonymous with Victorian cricket.
A Life Member of Cricket Victoria, he made ten centuries and compiled 4,611 runs at 53 in his 66 matches for the state.
Although he retired from top-level cricket at the age of twenty-eight to pursue a career in finance, Cowper was determined to contribute to the game even following his retirement from playing.
He served as a Match Referee for the ICC and was duly awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to cricket in 2023.
A gentleman and an ornament to the game, all at Melbourne University Cricket Club are saddened by his passing and offer our condolences to his family, friends and teammates.
